AN UNDERUSED city centre office block is set to be converted into flats for ‘students and young professionals’ as part of a collaboration with Swedish flatpack giants Ikea.
Virginia House, which sits opposite the Cattle Market car park and Crowngate Bus Station in Worcester, will be converted into 41 flats by the same people behind the transformation of the city’s Farrier House in Farrier Street in 2017.
The four-storey building in The Butts would be transformed into the flats alongside a cinema room, yoga room and private dining room.
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The developer said each room would come with an en-suite bathroom and a ‘compact’ kitchen.
The office block was built in the early 1970s but has largely been left empty in recent years.
Part of the building was granted permission by the council to be converted into a physiotherapy room in 2016 and was the last planning application concerning Virginia House to be approved.
Nilem and Peter Boyd, who were the same Dorset-based developers Stannary Solutions behind the £2 million makeover of Farrier House, have revived their partnership with Ikea for the flats.
A statement by Stannary Solutions said: "The vision is for the next step for university students, couples and young working professionals to share contemporary, stylish living focused on community and convenience.
"They will share well-designed collective spaces as well as enjoy their own fully furnished private room with en-suite and compact kitchen and dining areas.
"Virginia House provides the ideal environment for young people to socialise and network as well as making the most of Worcester city has to offer.
"Virginia House is a 'no worries' living space for the ambitious and career driven young adults."
The latest application to convert Virginia House is the second major plan for student accommodation in The Butts in the las week with councillors agreeing to demolish former nightclub Images for an 83-bed student accommodation building last week.
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